Mining-machine.



H. G. BERKEY.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16.I9I3.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Wiifiacsses Inventor, *6 jlarveg B rkey,

y 22) M 1 k 1 L & AA-a3 W13 if H l arr ruin HARVEY C. BERKEY, 0F CLAREMONT, NEIV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN'E ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

IVIININGJVIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed September 16, 1913. Serial No. 790,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY C, BERKEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Claremont, county of Sullivan, and State of New Hampshire, have invented an provement in Mining-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. I

This invention relates to mining machines, and more especially, though not exclus vely, to mining machines of the chain cutter type, and has special reference to devicesfor facilitating the making of the starting, or sumping, cut.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a coal mining ma chine of the continuous cutting type embodying my invention, and showing the mine wall in plan section, the machine being illustrated as it appears when ready to start the sumping out. In this view, a portion of the frame of the machine is partly broken away to disclose the feed chain controlling wheels.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine as in Fig. 1, and showing the roof, wall and floor of the mine in section; and n Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 33 of Fig. 1

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which I have selected for illustration, I have there shown a coal mining machine of the continuous cutting type, similar in its general construction and mode of operation to that of the Mitchell Patent, No. 656,414, mining machines, dated August 21, 1900. The machine proper, which is designated generally by the numeral 4, is provided with a cutter bar '5, on which is mounted a cutter chain provided with cutters 6. It will be understood that this chain is driven by appropriate mechanism, which may be similar to that disclosed'in the aforesaid Mitchell patent. The

machine may be fed by a feed-chain 7, en gaging a power-driven sprocket wheel 8, by means of which the machine is caused to propel itself and feed the cutters into the work. The machine is provided centrally, adjacent to its rear end, with a grooved idler wheel 9, and is provided at opposite sides of the sprocket wheel 8 with similar grooved and idler wheels 10-10, either of which may be utilized to guide the feed chain, it being understood that the latter is capable of being reversed, so as to operate on either side of the machine.

In orderto facilitate the making of the starting, or sumping out without the use of a starting frame or pan, which must of necessity be comparatively heavy, I employ herein a pair of sumping bars 11-11, disposed one at each side of the machine, and serving to guide the latter while making its sumping out. While these sumping bars may be of any other appropriate construction, I prefer to make them in the form of angle irons, having vertical flanges 12 constituting guideways.

By placing these bars closely adjacent the cutter chain at the side of the latter and in the same horizontal plane, they constitute cutter chain guards which serve as a means for reducing the danger of the miner being injured by his feet coming in contact with the cutters on the moving chain.

As a means for holding the machine against transverse movement with relation to the sumping bars, while guiding the machine longitudinally during the making of the sumping cut, the machine may be provided with suitable means interengaging with the sumping bars. Such means may be, and preferably is, in the form of a pair of guide rollers 1313, engaging the outer faces of the respective flanges 12 of the sumping bars, the flanges being interposed between the rollers and the adjacent side faces of the machine, thus interlocking therewith and preventing relative transverse movement between the sumping bars and the machine. These guide rollers may be otherwise appropriately mounted on the machine, but herein the machine is provided with a pair of laterally projecting arms 14, having studs .15con which rollers are journaled. In addition to the feed chain guiding wheels hereinbefore described, the machine may be provided with an appropriate pair of chain guiding wheels 1616, disposed at opposite sides respectively of the machine adjacent the forward end of the latter. These wheels may be, and prefer ably are, journaled on the studs 15, and may be, and preferably'are, formed integral with the guide rollers 13 already described.

Each of the sumping bars 11 is herein provided with a laterally extending foot plate 17, which may be secured in any appropriate manner to the horizontal flange of the'bar, as by rivets 18. Each of these foot plates is offset or depressed where it rojects beyond the flange, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so that its lower face lies in the same plane as the bottom face of the flange, as well as the bottom face of the machine proper. The foot plate of one sumping bar is disposed at the rear end of said bar, while the foot plate of the other sumping bar is disposed at the forward end, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The sumping bars, however, are preferably identical in construction, and are simply placed end for end. By this means, there is provided adjacent the forward end of one sumping bar a foot plate forming a rest for a jack l9, and there is provided a similar rest adjacent the rear end of the other bar for another jack 19. These jacks are intended to be wedged in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, between the rOOf of the mine and the foot plate, in such a manner as to secure each jack at one point. Preferably, each sumping bar is provided, at the end thereof which is opposite to the foot plate, with a tapered, or narrowed, portion 20 The sumping bar whose foot plate is disposed toward the rear of the machine has this narrowed or beveled portion engaging the vertical wall of the mine, while the foot plate of the other sumping bar is at the forward portion of the machine, and engages the adjacent wall. The feed chain 7 may be secured in any other appropriate manner, but herein its forward end is provided with a hook 21 hooked onto the lower terminal portion of the forward jack 19 adjacent the foot plate, while the rear end of the chain may be secured at an appropriate fixed point at the rear of the machine in a well known manner.

The form of the sumping bars, as herein before described, is such that the miner cannot place them incorrectly,that is to say, he cannot place both sumping bars with their foot-plates adjacent the wall of the mine, because one would not then fit onto the machine. He is, therefore, compelled by the very form and construction of each sumping bar to place them both in their relationship with the machine proper. The sumping bars, being very light and easily handled, can be used in many places, and under any circumstances where a starting frame or pan could not be used. Having assembled the sumping bars with the machine and secured them in place by means of the jacks, and having properly arranged the feed chain, the machine is ready to begin its sumping cut, and is then fed forward by the rotating sprocket wheel interengaging the chain, thus causing the machine to propel itself forward and advance the cutter chain into the vein of coal.

While I have herein shown and described one specific form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes. and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to One specific application thereof. it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the more details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form. or embodiment, of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof. 7

In the present apparatus each of the guide bars is clamped or bound to the ground at one point. It would, at other points, be normally movable relatively to the ground, but the several elements of the apparatus (the machine, the two guide bars and their holders, or jacks) are so related that when they are in place no such lateral movement is possible. The flexible draft device extending forward along one side of the machine and then being inclined away to the holder or jack, which fastens down the lateral extension of the guide bar, tends to permit the swinging of the machine when the cutter is at work; but any such swing ing action that would tend to occur in relation to either guide bar is prevented by the other.

The movable guide elements carried by the machine act to hold the guide bars and the machine in parallelism and to keep the entire apparatus properly related to the pre determined line,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to procure by Letters Patent is 1. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine having a forward projecting cutting mechanism adapted to be advanced longitudinally into the coal. a flexible draft device extending forward from the mining machine and adapted to be secured to a stationary abutment. a guide bar extending along the ground surface parallel to and engaging with the side of the machine and adapted to normally swing laterally at one end, means for fastening the other end in position relatively to the ground, and means, independent of the said engagin laterally with the ma 'chine to prevent t e swinging of the said guide bar. 7 2 In a coal mining apparatus, the com bination of a mining machine of the class described, a flexible draft device extending forward from the mining machine and adapted to be secured to a stationary abutment, a guide bar engaging laterally with 10 the mining machine, meansfor binding the said guide bar to the ground, said mining machine, draft device, guide bar and fastening device being related substantially as set forth, to cause the mining machine to tend to swing away from the guide bar when the cutting apparatus is entering the coal, and a second guide bar engaging laterally with the opposite side of the machine and preventing the swinging aforesaid, and means for binding said second guide bar to the ground.

3. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, a flexible draft device extending forward from the mining machine along one side thereof, and adapted to be secured to a stationary abutment, a guide bar engaging laterally with the mining machine on the side along which the draft device is 3 positioned, means for binding the said guide bar to the ground, said mining machine, draft device, guide bar and fastening device being related substantially as set forth to cause the machine to tend to swing relatively to the coal face when the cutting apparatus is entering the coal, the second guide bar engaging laterally with the opposite side of the machine to prevent swinging as aforesaid, and means for binding said second guide bar to the ground.

4. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, a flexible draft device extending forward from the mining machine along one side thereof, and adapted to be fastened to a stationary abutment, a guide bar engaging laterally with the mining machine on the side opposite that aforesaid, means for binding the said guide bar to the ground, said mining machine, draft device,

guide bar and fastening device being related substantially as set forth, to cause the mining machine to tend to swing away from the guide bar when the cutting apparatus is entering the coal, and a second guide bar engaging laterally with that side of the machine along which the flexible draftdevice is extended to prevent swinging as aforesaid, and means for binding the last said guide bar to the ground.

In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, a flexible draft device extend lug forward from the mining machine abutment, a guide bar engaging laterally with the mining machine, and clamped to the ground by said abutment and normally chine, and means situated opposite the free end of the first guide bar for binding the second guide bar to the ground.

6. In a coal'mmmg apparatus, the combination of a mining machine having a projecting cutting mechanism adapted to be advanced longitudinally into the coal, a flexible draft device extending forward from the mining machine, and adapted to be secured to a stationary abutment, two guide bars parallel to and engaging with the sides of'the machine, each normally adapted to swing laterally at one end, and means for holding the other end of each bar stationary relatively to the ground.

7. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, a flexible draft device extending forward from the machine and adapted to be secured to a stationary abutment, a guide bar on the ground engaging laterally with the machine in. one direction, means for holding the machine and the guide bar in predetermined lines relatively to the coal face, and a guide element movable with the machine and engaging laterally with the guide bar, in a direction opposite to that aforesaid.

8. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, a flexible draft device extending forward from the mining machine and adapted to be secured to a stationary abutment, two normally movable guide bars one 05 at each side of the machine and engaging therewith oppositely, means for holding the guide bars and the machine in parallelism with predetermined lines of the travel of the machine.

9. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a miningmachine of the class described, two duplicate guide bars each secured to the ground at one point by a single holder, and each being loosely and separably connected to the mining machine.

10. In a coal mining apparatus, the com bination of a mining machine of the class described, two duplicate guide bars, one for each side of the machine, each having a latoral extension at one end, and a flexible draft device extending from the mining machine and adapted to be connected to the lateral extension of either guide bar.

11. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, two duplicate guide bars relatively inverted. when in operation, one for each. side of the machine, each having a lat- 65 and adapted to be secured to a stationary eral extension at one end, a flexible draft device extending from the mining machine, and means for securing said lateral extensions to the ground and for holding the said flexible draft device.

5 12. In a coal mining apparatus, the combination of a mining machine of the class described, two guide bars, one for each side of the machine, means for fastening the said guide bars to the ground, and two mov- 10 able guide elements each interposed between the machine and one of the said guide bars, and means for moving the machine forward between the "said guide bars.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence s of two subscribing Witnesses.

" HARVEY C. BERKEY.

Witnesses:

M. P. HOLMES, ALBERT BALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

